Page 66 - The Rough Guide of Sicily
P. 66
Festival of Santa Marina Santa Marina Salina, Salina (July 17). A religious
procession, market, music and fireworks.
Festival of Santa Maria di Terzito Salina (July 23). Music, market and more
fireworks at the sanctuary of Madonna del Terzito.
Tindari festival Tyndaris. Theatre and concerts in the ancient theatre, from the last
week in July until late August.
Castroreale Jazz Castroreale (late July to early Aug). The mountain village of
Castroreale attracts international musicians for a series of open-air concerts.
Estate Ennese Enna (July & Aug). A series of concerts and opera in the open-air
theatre at Enna’s castle. Runs until end of Aug.
AUGUST
II Palio dei Normanni Piazza Armerina (Aug 12–14). The largest of several similar
events in surrounding towns, Piazza’s medieval pageant commemorates Count
Roger’s taking of the town in the eleventh century with a processional entry into town
on the 12th and a ceremonial joust on the 14th, along with costumed parades and other
festivities.
Palio Ortigia island, Siracusa (first Sun in Aug). A boat race round the island, in
which the five traditional quarters of the city compete with raucous enthusiasm.
Ferragosto (Aug 12–15). Processions and fireworks throughout Sicily; Messina has
perhaps the best event.
OCTOBER
Monreale concerts A week of ecclesiastical music concerts, staged at the cathedral
from the last week in October to the first week in November.
DECEMBER
Christmas week Display of eighteenth-century cribs in Acireale.
Santa Lucia Siracusa (Dec 13). Festival of St Lucy: a procession to the church of
Santa Lucia.
Nativity procession Salemi (Dec 24). Procession of locals dressed as characters
from the Nativity story.
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